AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2021 Issue 3; Ask the Editor

Decompression of Chiari Malformation by Excision

The patient was admitted for suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy for Chiari decompression with duraplasty and bilateral tonsillar bipolar coagulation for reduction of the tonsillar size. A dissection was made down to the C1 and C2 spinous processes and the occipital bone. A suboccipital craniectomy was performed. A C1 laminectomy was performed, the dura was opened and the bilateral cerebellar tonsils herniating past the foramen magnum as well as the spinal accessory nerves 9, 10 and 11 complex were visualized. Decompression of the nerves was achieved by shrinking the tonsils on the left side using bipolar suction. A portion of the left tonsil was resected as well. Then on the right side the tonsil was shrunken down using bipolar electrocautery. After confirming tonsillar reduction and being able to visualize the fourth ventricular outflow, an AlloDerm® dural patch was placed and the site was closed. What are the ICD-10-PCS codes for this procedure? ...

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